Zack Evans leads West Central past Mounds Meridian to win Illinois Class 1A boys basketball title

Evans has 27 points, 13 rebounds and four assists in win

CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS – Zack Evans was determined on Saturday to have a better performance than he had in the first half of West Central’s semifinal game on Thursday.

The Cougars’ all-state honoree showed out on Saturday with 27 points, 13 rebounds and four assists to lead West Central to a 62-43 victory over Mounds Meridian to claim the Illinois Class 1A championship – the program’s first title – at State Farm Center.

“I felt like I let my guys down a little bit during the first half on (Thursday) so I knew I had to bring it today in order for us to get a big win,” Evans said. “I definitely had that mindset, like I had to bring it or we had a chance of going home as runner-up.”

West Central (35-3) was led, just like in Thursday’s semifinal win, by its trio of senior starters in Evans, forward Chance Little and point guard Mason Berry.

In addition to Evans’ double-double, Little had 19 points and eight rebounds and Mason Berry scored 13 points, including two early 3-pointers.

“This is a very special group,” West Central coach Ryan Sichting said. “They are passionate, they love the game, they’re dedicated and they are not scared of any moment. We have been in several big games this year and these guys, from the tip, we were ready to go. I love these guys and this is special and this is something we’ll remember for the rest of our lives.”

Antonio Flenoid Jr. led Meridian (26-9) with 13 points. Javionne Ranson added eight points and six steals.

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West Central jumped out to a strong start, including an 8-0 run in the first quarter, and controlled the first half with Evans (12 points, nine rebounds), Berry (10 points) and Little (nine points) leading the way.

Meridian, meanwhile, struggled to shoot the ball early on, making just seven of 26 field goal attempts (26.9 percent) and just two of 12 3-point tries (16.7) in the first two quarters.

West Central, which finished second in 1A in 2011, led 33-19 at halftime and thwarted any Meridian comeback hopes in the second half by having an answer for every run by the Bobcats.

Chance Little hugs Mason Berry as West Central celebrates winning the 2024 Illinois Class 1A boys basketball championship / Photo by Nate Latsch, SBLive Sports

Illinois 1A boys basketball championship: West Central - Meridian

Photos by Nate Latsch

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- Nate Latsch | latsch@scorebooklive.com | @SBLiveIL